In 1838, unable to find employment, Edgar Allan Poe moved from New York City to Philadelphia and made the City of Brotherly Love his family's home for the next six years. New York City's loss was Philadelphia's gain. In Philadelphia, Poe not only became the editor and head critic of one of the city's most influential and successful monthly literary magazines, but he penned some of his most famous and lucrative (at least for Poe) short stories and poems. His writing while in this city helped to create a distinct and unique form of American Literature and established his reputation among the world's shining literati. Although Poe was a literary genius who could have written great works of literature in any environment, the city of Philadelphia at this time in history was ripe to be his muse.
The Poe's Philadelphia Program is comprised of two walking tours; one within the urban confines of the Old City, Spring Garden and Society Hill sections of the city while the other tour stretches into the pastoral outskirts of Poe's Philadelphia. These tours are meant to be complimentary, juxtaposing the hectic, crowded and often violent lifestyle of the city with a lush and serene natural landscape. Each tour would be conducted on two separate days. The purpose of these tours is to create, as much as possible, a hands-on interdisciplinary approach to learning about the writer Edgar Allan Poe. Viewing literature in the light and scope of a historical perspective unique to Philadelphia helps students not only understand Poe, but local history as well. As students walk in Poe's footsteps, history will come alive!
DAY ONE The Poe's City Scape walking tour is designed to lead a small group of people through the streets of Philadelphia to visit locations that were paramount to Poe's livelihood, as well as landmarks signifying historical events that could quite possibly have inspired Poe's creative writing between the years 1838 and 1844. At each location, stories concerning Poe's life and literature will be shared in addition to pertinent excerpts from his works. The City Scape tour visits places where Poe lived, worked and lectured. Important current events during Poe's Philadelphia years that may have impacted upon his day to day life and writing include the anti-Catholic and anti-abolitionist riots, a six year economic depression, a tuberculosis epidemic, the belief by many of a coming apocalypse and a lack of international copyright laws.
The City Scape tour includes the following locations and each site will focus on a specific piece of literature/history:
1. The Edgar Allan Poe House · 532 N. 7th St. (7th and Spring Garden Sts.) · Docent led tour, approximately one hour in length giving an overview of Poe's life with an emphasis on his life in Philadelphia. · The basement of this house provided inspiration for scenes in his story "The Black Cat" (1843), excerpts read.
2. Millerite Church on old Julianna Street · 328 Randolph St. (between 5th St. & 6th St. and Vine St. & Callowhill St.) · Poe lectured on the topic of "American Poetry" at this site. Reading of his poem "Lenore" (1843). · The Millerites believed that the world would end on October 22, 1844.
3. St. Augustine's Church · 243 N. Lawrence St. (NW corner of 4th & Vine Sts.) · This church held the sister bell to the Liberty Bell and was burned to the ground during the anti-Catholic riots in 1844. · Read Poe's poem "The Bells" (1849).
4. The site of Pennsylvania Hall · 6th & Haines Sts. (just south of Race St.) · Built by the abolitionists to promote the cause of ending slavery, this building was burned to the ground in the anti-abolitionist and race riots of 1844. · Excerpt from "Instinct vs. Reason" (1840)
5. The site of The Museum · 9th St. south of Chestnut St. · The first museum in the United States, it housed, among other rarities, a stuffed monkey exhibit dressed in human clothing and shaving one another. Closed in 1841. · Excerpt from "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841)
6. The Walnut Street Theatre · 825 Walnut St. · The oldest theater in the United States, it was the site of the only adaptation of one of Poe's stories during his lifetime. Silas S. Steele created a short melodrama out of Poe's prize winning story "The Gold Bug". · Excerpt from "The Gold Bug" (1843)
7. The United States Hotel · 4th and Chestnut Sts. (opposite the Second Bank of the United States) · Poe met Charles Dickens at this hotel and discussed the need for international copyright laws to protect the work of writers and to receive fair payment.
8. The Second Bank of the United States · 420 Chestnut St. · President Andrew Jackson refused to reissue the bank's charter in 1837, leading to a six year depression in the United States. Poe was habitually destitute and although he had a job during this time of widespread unemployment, the poor economy caused him to struggle financially from paycheck to paycheck.
9. Graham's Magazine · SW corner of 3rd & Chestnut Sts. · Poe was editor and literary critic for this monthly magazine. It offered steady pay and a venue for him to publish many of his short stories and poems. He published "The Mask of the Red Death" in Graham's Magazine, a story inspired by his wife's hopeless battle against tuberculosis. · Excerpt from "The Mask of the Red Death" (1842)
10. Burton's Magazine and a residence of Poe · Dock St. opposite The Exchange · One of Poe's most celebrated stories "The Fall of the House of Usher" was published in Burton's Magazine while he worked as its editor. · Excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839)
Poe's Philadelphia Educational Program
In 1838, unable to find employment, Edgar Allan Poe moved from New York City to Philadelphia and made the City of Brotherly Love his family's home for the next six years. New York City's loss was Philadelphia's gain. In Philadelphia, Poe not only became the editor and head critic of one of the city's most influential and successful monthly literary magazines, but he penned some of his most famous and lucrative (at least for Poe) short stories and poems. His writing while in this city helped to create a distinct and unique form of American Literature and established his reputation among the world's shining literati. Although Poe was a literary genius who could have written great works of literature in any environment, the city of Philadelphia at this time in history was ripe to be his muse.
The Poe's Philadelphia Program is comprised of two walking tours; one within the urban confines of the Old City, Spring Garden and Society Hill sections of the city while the other tour stretches into the pastoral outskirts of Poe's Philadelphia. These tours are meant to be complimentary, juxtaposing the hectic, crowded and often violent lifestyle of the city with a lush and serene natural landscape. Each tour would be conducted on two separate days. The purpose of these tours is to create, as much as possible, a hands-on interdisciplinary approach to learning about the writer Edgar Allan Poe. Viewing literature in the light and scope of a historical perspective unique to Philadelphia helps students not only understand Poe, but local history as well. As students walk in Poe's footsteps, history will come alive!
DAY ONE
The Poe's City Scape walking tour is designed to lead a small group of people through the streets of Philadelphia to visit locations that were paramount to Poe's livelihood, as well as landmarks signifying historical events that could quite possibly have inspired Poe's creative writing between the years 1838 and 1844. At each location, stories concerning Poe's life and literature will be shared in addition to pertinent excerpts from his works. The City Scape tour visits places where Poe lived, worked and lectured. Important current events during Poe's Philadelphia years that may have impacted upon his day to day life and writing include the anti-Catholic and anti-abolitionist riots, a six year economic depression, a tuberculosis epidemic, the belief by many of a coming apocalypse and a lack of international copyright laws.
The City Scape tour includes the following locations and each site will focus on a specific piece of literature/history:
1. The Edgar Allan Poe House
· 532 N. 7th St. (7th and Spring Garden Sts.)
· Docent led tour, approximately one hour in length giving an overview of Poe's life with an emphasis on his life in Philadelphia.
· The basement of this house provided inspiration for scenes in his story "The Black Cat" (1843), excerpts read.
2. Millerite Church on old Julianna Street
· 328 Randolph St. (between 5th St. & 6th St. and Vine St. & Callowhill St.)
· Poe lectured on the topic of "American Poetry" at this site. Reading of his poem "Lenore" (1843).
· The Millerites believed that the world would end on October 22, 1844.
3. St. Augustine's Church
· 243 N. Lawrence St. (NW corner of 4th & Vine Sts.)
· This church held the sister bell to the Liberty Bell and was burned to the ground during the anti-Catholic riots in 1844.
· Read Poe's poem "The Bells" (1849).
4. The site of Pennsylvania Hall
· 6th & Haines Sts. (just south of Race St.)
· Built by the abolitionists to promote the cause of ending slavery, this building was burned to the ground in the anti-abolitionist and race riots of 1844.
· Excerpt from "Instinct vs. Reason" (1840)
5. The site of The Museum
· 9th St. south of Chestnut St.
· The first museum in the United States, it housed, among other rarities, a stuffed monkey exhibit dressed in human clothing and shaving one another. Closed in 1841.
· Excerpt from "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841)
6. The Walnut Street Theatre
· 825 Walnut St.
· The oldest theater in the United States, it was the site of the only adaptation of one of Poe's stories during his lifetime. Silas S. Steele created a short melodrama out of Poe's prize winning story "The Gold Bug".
· Excerpt from "The Gold Bug" (1843)
7. The United States Hotel
· 4th and Chestnut Sts. (opposite the Second Bank of the United States)
· Poe met Charles Dickens at this hotel and discussed the need for international copyright laws to protect the work of writers and to receive fair payment.
8. The Second Bank of the United States
· 420 Chestnut St.
· President Andrew Jackson refused to reissue the bank's charter in 1837, leading to a six year depression in the United States. Poe was habitually destitute and although he had a job during this time of widespread unemployment, the poor economy caused him to struggle financially from paycheck to paycheck.
9. Graham's Magazine
· SW corner of 3rd & Chestnut Sts.
· Poe was editor and literary critic for this monthly magazine. It offered steady pay and a venue for him to publish many of his short stories and poems. He published "The Mask of the Red Death" in Graham's Magazine, a story inspired by his wife's hopeless battle against tuberculosis.
· Excerpt from "The Mask of the Red Death" (1842)
10. Burton's Magazine and a residence of Poe
· Dock St. opposite The Exchange
· One of Poe's most celebrated stories "The Fall of the House of Usher" was published in Burton's Magazine while he worked as its editor.
· Excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher" (1839)
END